Saturday, December 29, 2012

Hey, look, another off-topic post! At least there's one picture of nail stuff in here.

I'm back home... again. If you read my post from last week, you may have noticed the part at the end where I said I was going on another trip. Unlike my crappy fail-vacation in November, this one was actually fun. So much fun that I'm actually sad to be back here in the windy, frigid, and now shockingly flat-looking midwest.

It's hard not to want to go back when you wake up to this every morning:

That was the view from my hotel parking lot in lovely San Diego, California. It was my first time in California and now I understand why people want to live there. It's gorgeous. And it has these things:

Normally when Christmastime rolls around, I'm all about snow and cold weather, decorations and Christmas shopping, all that traditional holiday stuff. This year I just wasn't feeling it at all. I didn't even put up my Christmas tree! That never happens. NEVER. I am the kind of person who gets really into holidays, so that's saying something.

San Diego was festive in its own charming way, though. There was a massive Christmas tree accompanied by a snowman made of balloons in the hotel lobby. There were Christmas lights on palm trees. And this is what my hotel looked like at night:

Is that cute or what? Oh, by the way, in regards to that hotel... It doesn't get any better than booking your room for half price via Expedia on your cell phone in the hotel parking lot minutes before checking in. What can I say? I like to wing it. It's more fun that way.

I didn't do much polish or makeup wise for my trip, but this is what my nails looked like (and what they still look like currently, just with a lot more tipwear):

OPI Black Onyx, OPI Silver Shatter, Gelous topcoat. And a crab.

I know I probably shouldn't have picked up that crab, but it was so cute. It was the first time I'd seen one in the wild! Not only that, but the first time I'd seen (and touched) the Pacific ocean. First tide pool. Lots of firsts on this trip.

I didn't just choose San Diego as a random vacation destination, though. At least one part of my trip was planned. That part was this:

(This is not my video, by the way; all credit goes to Witherwings7 on Youtube!)

I could go on and on about how awesome that was, but I'll spare you (unless you actually want to hear about it?). The best part about that was that not only did I get to go to both nights of the show, I got to meet the band TWICE. Best Christmas present I could have hoped for. I guess that's what happens when you buy gifts for yourself, you always know exactly what to get. Haha!

So, yeah, I took a much longer blogging break than I wanted or intended to, but I think I needed it. I figured if there actually was some sort of apocalyptic event this month, would I rather have spent more time taking pictures of my own hands, or spending more time having fun with family and friends and doing things I don't normally get a chance to do?

But, after all this end-of-year holiday stuff is over, I should be settling back in and catching up on blog stuff. The last couple of months have been unusually busy for me and I've been spending most of my free time working on music and writing, so not much time (or daylight) for me to devote to swatching.

Once again, thanks for continuing to read my blog. I hope you all had an amazing holiday and I wish you the best for 2013!

Damn, I would have LOVED to spend christmas in a place with palm trees. Germany's freezing right now and there's not even snow. I'm happy for you that you had fun and found some time to do stuff for yourself. It's "just" a blog afterall.

I lived just north of San Diego (Oceanside) for close to 10 years and still go back because my parents live there. I agree that it's a great place and it's good to hear you had fun.

I don't blame you for taking some time away from your blog. You've been doing this for quite awhile. I think I would run out of things to say, especially when it comes to describing and writing about nail polish (I don't have any experience writing about makeup). But I'm also looking forward to more posts in the new year. :)

What a great way to spend Christmas, beats the wall-to-wall flooding we have currently in my little corner of England! And don't feel too bad about picking up the crab, I would have too! I'm sure it didn't mind :) xx

Yay for the song reference, I've never heard of SPG but they are great! As for having fun rather than blogging non stop, hey a happy Scrangie = happy readers IMO. I'm glad you got a good vacay, thanks for all the lovely swatches and fun posts this year. I'm so happy to have found you, you should have seen my nail related gifts, all researched on here by my hubs :)

Yay for the song reference, I've never heard of SPG but they are great! As for having fun rather than blogging non stop, hey a happy Scrangie = happy readers IMO. I'm glad you got a good vacay, thanks for all the lovely swatches and fun posts this year. I'm so happy to have found you, you should have seen my nail related gifts, all researched on here by my hubs :)

Your vacation looks/sounds awesome! I've never been to CA and so many people I know (or blogs I read) talk about having gone recently. I'm feeling left behind, lol. But really this was an excellent idea for the holidays. I wasn't really feeling the festiveness this year either and can see how a vacation like that would have helped fill that gap for someone feeling the same. Happy New Year!

I love San Diego but I hate its traffic, lol! I'm glad you got the chance to visit the city. I want to get back there for Comic-Con soon! Thanks for sharing that video of SPG; if they sound that good live I'm going to look up their albums! ^_^ To be honest, I wasn't feeling Christmas much this year, either. Just didn't feel the holiday spirit, I suppose.

I lived in San Diego for a few years (years ago) and I totally remember driving by that hotel during the holidays. There were also some really cool things on some of the buildings downtown too...I used to love going to the mall downtown during the holidays. Glad you had a great time!

Hello :) I started reading your blog a few months ago and love it - so wanted to wish you a happy new year! Thanks for providing me with motivation to stop biting my nails!

I hear you about the flatness of where you live. I grew up in a town in England on the Fylde Coast, which means 'flat.' Not only that, but the tiny, ugly fishing town was on a peninsular, so surrounded by grey, ugly sea on three sides. There was NOTHING to look at - no horizon, no view, nothing. Shudder! I now live on a hill at the foot of the Peak District natural park (love the literal names!) and have a cracking view across Sheffield, a city in England that is built on seven hills. Awesome stuff :D

I enjoyed reading about your perspective on CA after living in flat lands. I had the same experience, I live in CA now and never tire of seeing the beauty of Sonoma County. I have to really focus on driving and not sight seeing, I tend to want to look around at the views. Oh, if you ever get a chance come to NORCAL, see the redwood forest and take a drive HWY 1 along the forgotten coast for a real world fun adventure ride.

AGH!!!!! it's bad enough you give me polish lemmings, now I have joined Patronism, and am having their DVD being sent to me. AND planning a trip in April to see them on the other coast!!! Daaaaamn youuuuuuu!!!!! *shakes tiny fist*

I did indeed get the V.I.P ticket. :D I am SO excited!!! I hear AP is good too, but really, I am going to get mah robot on. I am trying like hell to see if the new wee Steampunk convention we have here locally can try to get them. It's a long shot I know, but I have a feeling they'd do well at a show here. Last show I traveled to see was Rob Zombie and that was only to Atlanta. Ive never flown cross country *just* to see a band but but this band is so totally worth it. Thank you SO much for introducing me to them!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been crossing my fingers super hard that they'll do the zoo again this year. I'd totally take a week or two and fly down there to watch them every day. I love animals, I love music, I love San Diego, I love SPG... it would be perfect!

I love this post! I love San Diego so much. I moved away from there 13 years ago, and it was the dumbest thing I ever did. However, don't tell my husband I said that, since I met him after I moved away from there. :D

I am going back to San Diego on Friday for four days, and I can't wait. I miss it so much. Your post makes me want to get there NOW!

Hey there...long time browser, LOVE your blog, visit ALL the time! My favorite polish reference site on the net. For realz! Anyway... Sometimes, all you need is to treat yourself to something great! I'm so happy for your fun vacation! Wishing you many more!